357 Magnum Revolvers

The .357 Magnum revolver is the most versatile wheelgun caliber you can own — it fires both .357 Magnum for full-power defensive, hunting, and field use, and .38 Special for cheaper, lower-recoil range practice and lighter carry loads, all from the same gun. Impact Guns carries .357 Magnum revolvers from Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Colt, Taurus, Kimber, and others in double-action, single-action, and snub-nose configurations for concealed carry, home defense, hunting, and cowboy-action shooting.

Read our full .357 Magnum Revolver Buying Guide ↓

Why .357 Magnum? The Dual-Caliber Advantage

Every .357 Magnum revolver also fires .38 Special — a shorter, lower-pressure cartridge that chambers and fires safely in .357 Magnum cylinders. This gives you two calibers in one gun: .38 Special for inexpensive range practice, reduced recoil, and lighter defensive loads, and .357 Magnum for full-power use when you need maximum energy. No other revolver caliber offers this level of versatility. A box of .38 Special costs less than .357 Magnum, so most .357 owners shoot .38 Special 80% of the time and load .357 when it matters.

Double-Action .357 Magnum Revolvers

Double-action revolvers fire with either a long DA trigger pull or a short, light SA pull with the hammer cocked. The Smith & Wesson Model 686 and Model 66 are the most popular .357 DA revolvers — the 686 on the medium-large L-Frame, the 66 on the smaller K-Frame. The Ruger GP100 is built like a tank and handles a lifetime of .357 Magnum loads without loosening. The Colt Python is the premium choice with one of the finest factory DA triggers ever made. The Kimber K6s is a compact carry-size .357 with a match-grade trigger. The Taurus 605, 66, and Tracker offer budget .357 revolvers across multiple frame sizes.

Single-Action .357 Magnum Revolvers

Single-action .357s cock the hammer manually before each shot, giving a light, crisp trigger pull and the classic western handling experience. The Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Magnum is the most popular single-action .357 — built on Ruger’s massively overbuilt New Model frame with a transfer-bar safety. Single-action .357s are popular for cowboy-action shooting, hunting, and recreational shooting.

.357 Magnum for Concealed Carry

Snub-nose .357 revolvers like the S&W Model 60, Ruger SP101, and Kimber K6s are viable concealed carry options. The trade-off is significant recoil from a short barrel and light frame — most carry shooters load their .357 snub-nose with .38 Special +P rather than full-power .357 Magnum for controllability. For dedicated carry revolvers, see our Concealed Carry Revolvers and Snub-Nose Revolvers pages.

.357 Magnum for Hunting

A .357 Magnum revolver with a 6–8 inch barrel is a capable handgun hunting tool for deer and hogs inside 50 yards with proper ammunition (158-grain hardcast or jacketed hollow points at 1,400+ fps). The Ruger GP100 and S&W 686 with 6-inch barrels are the most popular hunting configurations. For longer-range hunting with .357 Magnum, a .357 lever-action rifle extends the cartridge’s effective range significantly.

.357 Magnum vs. .38 Special Revolvers

A .38 Special revolver can only fire .38 Special. A .357 Magnum revolver fires both. If there’s any chance you’ll want the option of full-power .357 loads — for hunting, home defense, or just versatility — buy the .357 Magnum revolver and feed it .38 Special until you need more. The only advantage of a .38 Special-only revolver is lighter weight (smaller frame) and lower cost on some models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I shoot .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver?
Yes — every .357 Magnum revolver safely fires .38 Special ammunition. The reverse is NOT true — never fire .357 Magnum in a .38 Special-only revolver.

What’s the best .357 Magnum revolver for home defense?
The Ruger GP100 (4-inch barrel) or S&W 686 (4-inch barrel) — large enough to control .357 Magnum recoil, accurate, and reliable.

Is .357 Magnum too much for concealed carry?
From a snub-nose, .357 Magnum recoil is sharp. Most carry shooters load .38 Special +P in their .357 snub-nose for a better balance of power and controllability.

Best budget .357 Magnum revolver?
The Taurus 605 (snub-nose) or Taurus 66 (medium-frame) offer .357 Magnum at the most accessible price points.

.357 Magnum vs. 9mm for self-defense?
.357 Magnum delivers more energy per shot from a 4-inch barrel than any 9mm. The trade-offs are capacity (5–7 rounds vs. 15+ in a 9mm semi-auto), slower reloads, and more recoil.